Everything about Clan Mackinnon totally explained
Clan Mackinnon or
Clan Fingon is a
Highland Scottish clan associated with the islands of
Mull and
Skye, in the
Inner Hebrides.
Popular tradition gives the clan a
Dalriadic Gaelic origin. The 19th century
historian W. F. Skene named the clan as one of the seven clans of
Siol Alpin - who according Skene could all trace their ancestry back to
Alpin, father of
Cináed mac Ailpín. Popular tradition has been until recently to consider Cináed mac Ailpín the first
King of Scots and a
Gael, however recent research has shown he was actually a
Pictish king and likely a
Pict himself. Sir
Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk speculated that Clan Mackinnon belonged to the kindred of Saint
Columba, noting the MacKinnon
Arms bore the hand of the saint holding the
Cross, and the several MacKinnon
abbots of
Iona.
Though little is known of the early history of the clan, it's likely to have served under the Lords of the Isles.
Clan history
According to the historian Donald Gregory the first authentic record of the clan is found in an indenture between
John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and the
Lord of Lorn, in 1354. Sometime after the death of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, in 1386,
John Mór (younger son of John of Islay) rebelled against his elder brother
Domhnall, in an attempt to take the Lordship of the Isles for himself.
The earliest record of the Mackinnons is of
Lachlan Makfingane, who witnessed a charter by
Donald de Ile, dominus Insularum, to
Hector Macgilleone, dominus de Doward, on
November 1 1409.
Clan Fingon and the abbacy of Iona
The early clan seems to have had a close connection with the abbacy on the small
Inner Hebridean island of
Iona. The abbacy of Iona was first founded in 563 by Saint Columba, and many following abbots were selected from his kindred (
Cenel Conaill: descendants of
Conall Gulban, who was Columba's great-grandfather and the founder of
Tír Conaill). which is inscribed: "Hec Fingone: et: eivs: filii: Johannis: X: abbatis de Hy: facta: anno: Domini: måccccålxxxåixå". In 1545, Ewen, the chief of the clan, was one of the barons and council of the Isles who swore allegiance to the King of England, at Knockfergus in Ireland. Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, in his
A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides, in 1549, described the MacKinnon controlled lands at that time. On Skye were the lands of "Straytsnardill" (
Strathairdle, of which later MacKinnon chiefs were designated), and "the castill of
Dunnakyne perteining to Mackynnoun; the castill Dunringill, perteining to the said Mackynnoun".
In 1579,
Fynnoun MacKynnoun of Strathardill, and his son
Lachlane Oig, were reported to
James VI, along with Maclaine of Lochbuie and the MacLeans, by John,
Bishop of the Isles. The Bishop of the Isles complained to the Scots king that these men were preventing him from receiving the rents of his
See.
On
July 12 1606 Lauchlan MacKinnon of Strathairdle and Finlay Macnab of Bowaine, entered into a Bond of Friendship.
In Support of the Stuarts
During the
Wars of the Three Kingdoms the Mackinnons followed the
Marquess of Montrose, and took part in the
Battle of Inverlochy on
February 2 1645.
Although considered a relatively minor clan, it seems to have been of considerable strength. Following the defeat of the
Jacobites at the
Battle of Culloden, Charles Edward Stuart fled to the west coast of Scotland in order to flee to
France. Tradition has the Mackinnons aiding the prince, with the chief concealing him in a cave, and the chief's wife bringing the prince refreshments of cold meat and wine., but proved ultimately fruitless. The thirty-fifth chief of the clan was
Francis Alexander MacKinnon. Today the present chief is Madam Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon.
Clan profile
Origin of the name
The
surname MacKinnon is an
Anglicisation of the
Gaelic Mac Fhionghuin, which is a
patronymic form of the Gaelic
personal name meaning "fair born" or "fair son".
Middle Irish forms of the name are
Finghin and
Finnguine, while the
Modern Irish is
Findgaine. In consequence some "MacKinnons" have Anglicised their name to
Love or
Low, although very few of people with these surnames actually derive their name this way, and most have no connection with the Mackinnons.
Clan Mackinnon genealogy according to the MS of 1450
According to Skene, the
manuscript of 1450 proved that Clan Mackinnon was a branch of Clan Gregor.
Clan crest, motto, badge and slogan
- Crest badge: Note: crest badges consist of the clan chief's heraldic crest and heraldic motto, encicled with a strap and buckle.
- Clan chief's crest: A boar's head erased, argent, holding in its mouth a deer's shankbone, proper.
- :A MacKinnon legend that's supposed to explain the chief's crest is of a Mackinnon who was hunting on the shores of Loch Scavaig in Skye. After becoming separated from his hunting party the Mackinnon spent the night in a cave for shelter. While preparing some venison which he was about to cook over an open fire he was attacked by a wild boar which charged into the cave. Mackinnon then drove the butchered deer's leg into the mouth of the boar, jamming it open, before killing the wild animal.
Clan badge: Scots Pine.
Clan chief
The chief of Clan Mackinnon is Madam Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of Mackinnon, 38th Chief of the Name and Arms of Mackinnon.
Cadet branches/tacksmen
Mackinnon of Borreraig
Mackinnon of Corriechatachan
Mackinnon of Elgol
Mackinnon of Gambell
Mackinnon of Keanouchrach (Chinn Uachdaraich)
Mackinnon of Kyle
Mackinnon of Mishnish
Clan septs
Septs were clans, families, or groups of people who were absorbed into a larger clan for mutual benefit. Septs that have been attributed to Clan Mackinnon are as follows:
Kinnon.
Love.
MacKinney.
Get more info on 'Clan Mackinnon'.
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